Adjustable height golf tee and target member



Sept. 16, 1969 e. H. GARDINER 3,467,390

ADJUS ABLE HEIGHT GOLF TEE AND TARGET MEMBER Filed Oct. 5, 1966 FIG'?) INVENTOR.

GEORGE H. GARDINER BY MORGAN, FINNEGAN, DURHAM 8 PINE ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oflice Patented Sept. 16, 1969 3,467,390 ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT GOLF TEE AND TARGET MEMBER George H. Gardiner, 955 E. 40th St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11210 Filed Oct. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 584,540 Int. Cl. A63b 69/36, 57/00 US. Cl. 273-183 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a device for assisting golfers in hitting a golf ball properly and accurately from the teeing ground. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new and improved golf tee adapted to position the golf ball in the teeing ground. While the invention is particularly useful for beginning golfers it is also useful for experienced golfers particularly as a training or practice device.

The present invention relates to a golf tee which automatically positions the golf ball at a predetermined distance above the ground, aids the player in swinging a golf club in the intended line of flight during a critical portion of the golf swing, helps insure that the golf club contacts the ball squarely during the upswing and provides a target which aids the player in striking the ball.

The beginning golfer usually experiences considerable difficulty in properly stroking the golf ball off the conventional golf tee. Among the difliculties a beginning golfer faces are positioning the ball at the proper height above the ground, insuring that the club face is perpendicular to the line of intended flight when addressing and striking the ball and contacting the ball during the upswing.

Although the distance the golf ball is positioned above the teeing ground is dependent somewhat on the personal characteristic of each golfers swing, it is recognized that a ball which is teed too low to the ground may cause the golfer to strike the ball fat, i.e. to hit the ground in back of the ball or to strike the ball on a low trajectory resulting in either event in a short drive.

Conversely, a ball which is teed too high from the ground may result in the club face striking the ball at the upper portion of the face so that the ball is skied, i.e. the ball travels a great distance vertically and a relatively short distance horizontally. This problem can be minimized if the ball is teed above the ground at a predetermined distance, for example, about a distance about one and one-half times the height of the club face. In addition, the present invention provides a means for insuring that the golf ball is always positioned at the same height above the ground whenever the ball is teed in the teeing area so that the ball is not teed too high one time and too low the next time.

Another difficulty which beginning golfers experience is maintaining the club face perpendicular to the line of flight at the time of impact of the club face with the ball. Most golf professionals now teach the one-piece swing.

One aspect of the one-piece swing is that the club face is brought straight back for approximately ten to twelve inches. The objective of this method is that the club face will be returned to its original address position just prior to the time of impact.

Another difliculty inexperienced golfers have is keeping their heads still while striking the ball. Part of this problem is that the ball itself is not of suflicient size for the golfers to focus their attention on. Moreover, there is a natural tendency for the golfer to want to follow the flight of the ball and as a result he may look up before the ball is struck.

In accordance with this invention a target is provided with a marking which will help the golfer keep his head down until after the ball has been struck.

With the foregoing in mind it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved golf training device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved golf tee for positioning a golf ball in the teeing area.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved golf tee which positions the golf ball a predetermined distance above the ground dependent on the club being used.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved golf tee which aids the golfer in hitting the golf ball along the intended line of flight.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved golf tee which is frangible and will not interfere with lawn mowing equipment used in maintaining a golf course.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description or may be learned from practice of the invention, the objects and advantages being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.

Briefly described, the present invention includes a conical shaft similar in appearance to a conventional golf tee on which is positioned a target member which target member is aimed in the line of intended flight of the golf ball. The target member is attached to the conical shaft unember by a connecting means which include an element having a hemispherical recess for positioning the golf ball.

The target element is substantially wedge shaped and is adjustably mounted on the shaft so that it can be aimed in the direction of the intended line of flight. The target member includes a marking thereon which -will hold the golfers attention during the swing. The invention further includes means for permitting the ball to be positioned a predetermined but constant distance above the ground dependent on the desires of the golfer or dependent upon the club being used. Furthermore, the entire tee is made of frangible material so that it will not interfere with lawn mowing equipment.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements shown and described.

The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view showing one form of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view showing another form of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a side view showing the invention in use.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the invention includes a tapered shaft 2 which closely resembles a conventional golf tee in that the shaft tapers down to a sharp point at one end. This end is obviously intended to be inserted into the ground. The other end of the tapered shaft has a relatively flat circular surface 4 from which a small stub shaft 6 extends upwardly. Adapted to be mounted on the stub shaft is a target element 8 having an aperture 10 at one end in which the stub shaft is inserted. The target element as can best be seen in FIG. 3 includes a portion adapted to conform generally to the circular portion of said tapered shaft. The target element then extends generally downwardly and the terminal end 12 thereof is adapted to engage the teeing ground. The target element has the general shape of an arrow and is adapted to be pointed in the direction of the intended line of flight. The target member also has on its surface a marking 9 which can have any desired shape. The purpose of the marking is to provide an attention getting target which holds the golfers attention so he will not attempt to follow the flight of the ball before the ball has been struck. The marking can be placed on the target member in any desired fashion such as bright paint or other attention arresting method.

The improved golf tee in accordance with this invention includes means for positioning the ball a predetermined yet uniform height above the teeing ground. As embodied, the invention includes a first spacer member 14 which is generally cylindrical in form and includes an aperture 16 passing through its center along the longitudinal axis. At the other end of the first spacer member is a spherical recess on which a golf ball is adapted to be positioned if so desired. The first spacer member 14 is adapted to be positioned over the stub shaft 6 with a relatively tight friction fit.

If desired, the tee can be used in this form and is particularly helpful where the club being used has an inclined face. Thus with this form of the invention the ball is teed relatively close to the ground and is particularly useful with a number 4 or number wood.

The golf tee of the present invention, however, is useful with a variety of woods where the ball is normally teed above the ground a distance greater than that described above.

Thus in accordance with this invention a second spacer member 20 is provided which is generally cylindrical in form and having a stub shaft 22 extending from one end and a hemispherical recess 24 at the other end. The stub shaft 22 on this member is adapted to be positioned in the aperture 16 in the first spacer member 14. The spherical recess on this member is also adapted to position a golf ball where it is desired to position the ball slightly higher above the ground that is possible with the form of invention shown in FIGURE 1. Thus this form of the invention may be useful where a number 2 or possible number 3 wood is used. Also as shown in FIGURE 2 the invention further includes a third spacer member 26 generally cylindrical in form which also has a spherical recess at one end. The third spacer member is utilized whenever it is desired to position the ball at an even greater height than is possible with the other forms of the invention. Thus this form of the invention is particularly useful where the driver or number 1 wood is used.

The invention in use can be seen in FIG. 3 wherein all of the above elements are in use to obtain the maximum height above the ground for the golf ball. In use the tapered shaft 2 is inserted into the ground until the terminal end of the target member 12 comes into contact with the ground. The target member 8, which can be adjusted, is aimed in the direction of the intended line of flight.

The player then addresses the ball and positions the club face so that the club face is perpendicular to the direction in which the target member 8 is aimed and hence perpendicular to the direction of the intended line of flight. The player then focuses his attention on the bright marking 9. Upon beginning the backswing the club will be moved directly rearwardly and the target member provides a visual guide to help insure that the club is brought straight back rather than inside or outside the line of intended flight. During the downswing the target member and the bright marking 9 provides a guide to help insure that the club face is returned to its original address position so that the ball will be struck squarely with the club face in the same position as it was during the address position, i.e. perpendicular to the intended line of flight.

With the form of invention as shown in FIG. 3 the ball is positioned on the proper height for use with a driver. When, however, a higher numbered club is utilized such as for example No. 3 or 4 wood, the height of the ball can be decreased by removing one or more of the spacer members.

It is understood that the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific elements shown and described, but contemplates within the scope of the accompanying claims any departures made from such elements which do not sacrifice its chief advantages.

I claim:

1. A device for aiding a golfer in striking a golf ball along the intended line of flight comprising:

(a) a tapered shaft having a point at one end adapted to be inserted into the ground and a relatively fiat circular surface at the other end,

(b) a target member constructed of frangible material adapted to be positioned and aimed to point in the direction of the intended line of flight,

(c) means connecting said target member to said circular surface of said tapered shaft, said connecting means being adjustable in height,

((1) said target member engaging said circular surface of said shaft and extending in a direction opposite to the intended line of flight and gradually downwardly and adapted to come into contact with the ground so that said golf ball can be positioned a predetermined distance above the ground,

(e) a bright marking on said target member positioned behind the golf ball and adapted to assist the golfer in maintaining his head still during the golf swing,

(f) a stub shaft extending upwardly from said circular surface of said tapered shaft and through said target member and a member having a spherical recess at its far end positioned on said stub shaft,

(g) said connecting means comprising a cylindrical spacer member having an aperture passing through its center and a spherical recess at its outer end positioned on said stub shaft.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein a second member having a stub shaft at one end and a spherical recess at the other end is positioned on said spacer member so that said stub shaft extends into said aperture in said spacer member.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein another cylindrical spacer member having a spherical recess is positioned on said second member.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein all the elements are made of frangible material.

5. A device for aiding a golfer in striking a golf ball along the intended line of flight and for positioning the ball a predetermined distance above the ground comprising:

(a) a tapered shaft having a point at one end adapted to be inserted into the ground,

(b) a target member made of frangible material connected to the other end of said tapered shaft,

(c) a member having a spherical recess connected adjacent one end of said target member, said recess being adapted to hold a golf ball,

((1) said target member being tapered outwardly from said recessed member so that said target can be pointed in the direction of intended flight,

(e) said target member being bent downwardly from said recessed member point so that the wide end thereof will engage the ground when said tapered shaft have been inserted a predetermined distance into the ground,

(f) a bright marking on said target member positioned behind the golf ball to assist the golfer in maintaining his head still during the golf swing.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 7/ 1936 Great Britain.

0 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner THEATRIC'E BROWN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

